26 



unconnected with it ; they are in reality the springs which influence and 

 direct its movements. The gulf which was fixed between the knowledge 

 of the learned and that of more simple men is diminishing yearly, each 

 party approaching nearer to the other. Many of our popular series of 

 works are the recognized text books of the learned ; and men of Euro- 

 pean reputation do not ^hesitate to become occasional contributors to 

 works of general circulation. The proceedings of the British Associa- 

 tion, too, have influenced the mechanic at his bench, the manufacturer 

 in his warehouse, the miner in the bowels of the earth, the traveller 

 in unknown lands, and the mariner under every star, *• who goes down 

 to the sea in ships." In like manner, the proceedings of the Archseolo- 

 gical Societies have influenced the possessors of property and the custo- 

 dians of it in every parish of the country ; and have shown that property, 

 especially where it is of ancient date, "has duties as well as rights." 

 The hand of ignorance which, like a destroying angel, was sweeping over 

 the monuments in every part of the kingdom, is stayed. The devasta- 

 tions of time and accident are repaired. The eyes of Argus peer into 

 every excavation and cutting, and objects apparently of no importance 

 are carefully classed and described, and invested with historic interest. 

 When such subjects as heraldry, antiquity, genealogy, church architec- 

 ture, mediaeval literature, and obsolete customs, are made familiar to 

 the least initiated, it surely must be acknowledged that our popular 

 literature is greatly enriched. 



In consequence of the multitude of books which issue from the press 

 in our days, a guide to some general selection becomes indispensable. 

 Hence the system of reviewing, which originated in France in 1655, and 

 in England in 1688, though it was not till comparatively modern times 

 that it assumed its present form. Unfortunately, most of our Reviews 

 are the property of publishers ; and though this fact need not influence 

 their criticisms, it is found in practice that it does. Others are the pro- 

 perty of private individuals, and this objection is removed ; but it is said 

 that there axe other influencing causes, such as the number of advertise- 

 ments given. On the whole, however, the guidance is good and useful, 

 and the cases in which the race is withheld from the swift or the battle 

 from the strong, are few and exceptional. The system of advertising, 

 co-ordinately with that of reviewing, has become a sort of necessity ; and 

 some who understand it much better than others, keep their names con- 

 tinually before the public. Hence, as in other cases, it is not always 

 the most meritorious who succeed, but often the most importunate. 



One evil of the advertising system is, that when an author has become 

 a known favourite mth the public, he sometimes takes gi*eat liberties 

 with his subject and his readers, presuming generally on a favourable 

 5 



